CBSE Class 10 English Communicative Sample Paper 2024 Solved

SECTION A : READING SKILLS

I Read the following passage

A Dirshti was young woman who had always been fascinated by the supernatural. She had read countless books and watched numerous documentaries about ghosts and otherworldly beings. So, when she heard about an abandoned hotel on the outskirts of town that was said to be haunted, she knew she had to investigate.

B One night, Dirshti decided to sneak into the dilapidated hotel with a few of her friends. As they made their way through the dark, eerie corridors, they heard strange noises and felt cold spots. They were convinced that they were not alone.

C Suddenly, they came across a room that was different from the rest. It was filled with old cooking equipment and strange symbols etched into the walls. Drishti felt a chill run down her spine as she entered the room. She knew that this was where the most paranormal activity occurred. As they were examining the room, they heard a loud bang coming from the hallway. They froze in fear, not knowing what was coming their way. They could hear footsteps approaching, and they knew they had to hide.

D They quickly ducked behind some old shelves as the footsteps grew louder. The sound of breathing was getting closer and closer until finally, they saw a figure appear in the doorway. It was a man wearing a chef’s hat, with a face that was twisted in a sinister smile. Drishti and her friends felt their blood run cold as the man approached them. They could feel his cold breath on their faces as he leaned in, whispering in a deep voice, "You shouldn't be here."

E Dirshti and her friends were frozen with fear as they stared into the chef's eyes. But suddenly, the lights flickered on and the figure disappeared. They looked around the room, and everything seemed normal.
They had been so scared that they hadn't realized they were in a room with faulty wiring.

F Disappointed, they realized that their ghost hunt had been a bust. They left the hotel feeling deflated and let down. They had hoped for an exciting, spine-tingling adventure, but all they got was a scary moment caused by faulty wiring. As they drove home, they couldn't help but feel foolish for getting so worked up over nothing. They had been so convinced that they would find evidence of the paranormal that they had overlooked the simple explanation for the noises they had heard.

G Dirshti learned an important lesson that night. Sometimes, the scariest things are the ones that we create in our own minds. She realized that she didn't need to chase after the supernatural to experience thrills and excitement. The world around her was full of mystery and wonder, and she was content to experience it without the need for ghosts and ghouls.

Answer the following questions, based on the passage above.

I i How does the setting contribute to the overall mood and atmosphere of the story?
A. It creates a sense of nostalgia.
B. It provides a sense of false security.
C. It adds to the suspense in the story.
D. It presents a contrast with the real world.
Answer : C. It adds to the suspense in the story.
[The setting of the abandoned mansion and surrounding woods creates a foreboding atmosphere that adds to the overall dread in the story.]

ii List two ways, how the disappointment that Drishti and her friends felt after their ghost hunt, is analogous to the feeling of waking up from a dream. Answer in 30 -40 words
Answer : Ways the disappointment that Drishti and her friends felt after their ghost hunt is analogous to the feeling of waking up from a dream -- (any 2)
• both involve a sense of disappointment that reality didn't live up to their expectations.
• In both cases, they may have had high hopes for what they would experience, only to find that it was not as exciting or satisfying as they had hoped.
• Just as waking up from a dream can be jarring and leave us feeling let down, Drishti’s realization that the haunted hotel was not as spooky as she had imagined was a letdown for her and her friends.

iii What is the main flaw in Drishti's approach to investigating the haunted hotel?
A. She was too focused on finding evidence of the paranormal.
B. She was too skeptical and refused to believe in the possibility of ghosts.
C. She relied too heavily on other people's accounts of the supernatural.
D. She didn't take enough precautions to ensure her safety.
Answer : A. She was too focused on finding evidence of the paranormal.
[Throughout the story, Drishti is fixated on finding evidence of the paranormal in the haunted hotel. She goes in with a preconceived notion of what she expects to find and is willing to overlook other explanations for the strange sounds and experiences she has. 

iv After which paragraph of the story, would the following paragraph most likely be placed?
They commenced walking through the hotel, Drishti’s torchlight barely illuminating the darkness around her. Suddenly, they heard a loud creaking noise behind them. Drishti whipped around, pointing her flashlight in the direction of the noise. Nothing . Shaken, they all quickened their pace.
Answer : After paragraph B
[It would be placed after paragraph 2, because Drishti and her friends have just begun exploring. This paragraph segues into paragraph 3 , as it begins
with “Suddenly...” , indicating that something happens after “they all quickened their pace.” The other likely paragraphs could have been 3,4 and 5 but they aren’t suitable as the apparent encounter has already taken place.]

v Briefly explain (in 30-40 words) any two elements that classify the story as scary. 
Answer : Elements that classify the story as scary -- (any two)
• Suspense: The story creates a sense of unease and tension through its use of foreshadowing, eerie descriptions, and unexplained phenomena.
• Eerie atmosphere: The hotel setting contributes to the overall sense of fear and dread, with its dilapidated and abandoned state.
• Supernatural elements: The story includes unexplained noises, movements, and apparitions that suggest the presence of supernatural forces or entities.
• Isolation: Drishti and her friends are all alone in the hotel, adding to the sense of vulnerability and fear.
• Psychological fear: The story plays on the psychological fears of the reader, such as the fear of the unknown, the fear of being watched or followed, and the fear of the dark 

vi Substitute the underlined word in the following sentence with a word/ phrase from paragraphs 4-6, that means the same.
The sound of the footsteps outside the door left her petrified and the rasping breathing added to her horror.
Answer : frozen with fear ( paragraph 5)
[The word "terrified" could have been used instead of “petrified”, in the question to convey a sense of extreme fear, but they are not exactly the same in meaning. "Terrified" generally means being very afraid, while
"frozen in fear" suggests being so scared that one is physically unable to move or react. Hence, “petrified.” 

vii What is the most significant lesson that Drishti learns from her experience in the haunted hotel?
A. The importance of avoiding risk- taking.
B. The need to be more sceptical of the supernatural.
C. The value of evaluating your weaknesses
D. The power of imagination to create suspense.
Answer : B. The need to be more sceptical of the supernatural.
[ Throughout the story, Drishti is fascinated by the supernatural and the possibility of encountering ghosts in the haunted hotel. However, the story
reveals that many of the scary sounds and experiences there were caused by something as simple as faulty wiring. By the end of the story, Drishti
realizes that she needs to be more sceptical of supernatural claims and look for more logical explanations. 

viii Complete the following appropriately.
Based on the use of the word "dilapidated" to describe the hotel, in Paragraph 2, we can infer that its condition was _______________.
Answer : (Any one, from those given / similar)
• ...in a state of disrepair and neglect
• ...old, damaged, and possibly unsafe (just ‘old’ is not acceptable)
• ...in a state of decay

ix Complete the sentence appropriately.
If the title, The Hotel Haunting is given to this passage, it would be an inappropriate title, as compared to The Unsettling Encounter at the Abandoned Hotel because __________.
Answer : ...it makes assumptions about the presence or absence of ghosts unlike the appropriate title ‘The Unsettling Encounter at the Abandoned Hotel’, which accurately reflects the events of the story, indicating a spooky and unsettling experience at an abandoned hotel.

x State whether the given assertion is TRUE or FALSE.
The reason Drishti and her friends visited the abandoned hotel was to prove the existence of ghosts
Answer : FALSE
[While Drishti and her friends did visit the abandoned hotel to investigate the rumours of ghosts, they didn't do it to prove their existence. Their goal was to have an exciting adventure and to prove their bravery by spending a night in a supposedly haunted place.]

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